Magnum P. I. Speedometer? | FerrariChat

Magnum P. I. Speedometer?

Discussion in '308/328' started by rkljr, Jan 14, 2014.

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  1. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

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    #1 rkljr, Jan 14, 2014
    I was recently shamed into watching some old episodes of Magnum P.I. I believe the early episodes feather at 1979 US Spec 308. I was surprised to see a normal speedometer as opposed to one that only shows a max of 85 like my US Spec '79.

    Did they swap in a different speedometer or did earlier cars have that speedometer?
     
  2. WJHMH

    WJHMH Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 WJHMH, Jan 14, 2014
    I thought that was only on the 1980-81 models. I've never seen one on a carbureted 308.
     
  3. bspellerin

    bspellerin Formula Junior
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    #3 bspellerin, Jan 14, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. DANCER308

    DANCER308 Formula Junior

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    #4 DANCER308, Jan 14, 2014
    My '79 308 GTS US carb says 180.
     
  5. i-velocita

    i-velocita F1 Rookie
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    #5 i-velocita, Jan 14, 2014
    My 80 gtsi says 180 also.
     
  6. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Jan 14, 2014
    They were all over the board back in the day and I have never understood it either.
    I have pictures of an 82 model that I took in 1983 with a 180.
     
  7. ramosel

    ramosel Formula 3

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    #7 ramosel, Jan 14, 2014
    and my 80 GTSi says 85...

    I think this is one of those items that Ferrari just put in "as available". If the spec speedo was out of stock... Vito, Justa grab one-a doze on da shelf
     
  8. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

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    #8 rkljr, Jan 14, 2014
    Hmmm,I assumed they all US '79s had the same one. My car is December '79 and has 85 as the top number. Maybe earlier they had the 180.

    I hate the 85 and may swap in a 180.
     
  9. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

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    #9 rkljr, Jan 14, 2014
    Robin 1, very cool. I say shamed because another FChatter commented on a comment I made about not having watched the show since it originally aired. I recently watched a few of the first season while I was exercising. The time passes quickly.
     
  10. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

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    #10 4rePhill, Jan 14, 2014
    I found the seasons 1&2 collections for sale on the first Saturday just after Christmas.

    I started to watch them @ 9pm that night - By 4am I decided that I really should go to bed! :D
     
  11. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 mwr4440, Jan 14, 2014
    My '81 HAD a 85. It NOW HAS a 180. I am the guilty party. :D

    That happened A LOT.


    IIRC, the TSB mandated the 85 for a number of years on all cars as the National Speed Limit was 55 and it was assumed that the lower numbered speedos would get people to more often observe the speed limit as the needle at 55 would be over halfway in the face of an 85 unit giving the illusion of speed.

    Not sure if that is 100% accurate but it is a mixture of stuff I read and stuff I heard.
     
  12. mike308gts

    mike308gts Karting

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    #12 mike308gts, Jan 15, 2014
    My 79 has a 85. September 79 build.
     
  13. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 Steve Magnusson, Jan 15, 2014
    According to Wiki, the change-over boundary was Sept 01, 1979 (not model year):

    On September 1, 1979, in a regulation that also regulated speedometer and odometer accuracy, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) required speedometers to have special emphasis on the number 55 and a maximum speed of 85 mph (137 km/h). However, on October 22, 1981, NHTSA proposed eliminating speedometer and odometer rules because they were "unlikely to yield significant safety benefits" and "[a] highlighted '55' on a speedometer scale adds little to the information provided to the driver by a roadside speed limit sign."[32][33][34]

    National Maximum Speed Law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
     
  14. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

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    #14 rkljr, Jan 15, 2014
    That is a good one. I would hardly call my speedometer accurate and I have to assume the odometer is no better as they work from the same input.

    Thanks for the info. and that explains it. I did not know the timing of the regulation but I was aware of the other rules.
     
  15. flashman

    flashman Formula Junior
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    #15 flashman, Jan 15, 2014
    My 1981 from the factory 180.
     
  16. 308 GTSi

    308 GTSi Rookie

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    #16 308 GTSi, Jan 22, 2014
    My 81 also has the 180
     
  17. tvine

    tvine Formula Junior

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    #17 tvine, Jan 22, 2014
    My '79 GTB has the 85 MPH speedo. It was built December 5 of '79, 45 from the end of '79 production. It seems that they kept building carb models as long as they could.
     
  18. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

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    #18 Crowndog, Jan 22, 2014
    My '82 had a 85er and I had the face redone by Palo Alto
     
  19. kcmstono

    kcmstono Rookie

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    #19 kcmstono, Jan 23, 2014
    My 80 308gtsi came from the factory with 85 mph speedo, but original bill of sale has written on it "that dealer will install 180mph speedo when available". speedo changed out about a year later by the dealer. oh, that was all in NC
     
  20. 4right

    4right F1 Rookie
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    #20 4right, Jan 23, 2014
    My 79 also had the 85 speedo, thought about changing it over but never did. I wanted to keep it original.
     
  21. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 mwr4440, Jan 23, 2014
    What are the build dates on your '81 cars? Mine is NOV and it had an 85mph unit.

    Lots got changed over at the dealership.
     

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